Cash assistance for tourism workers

More than 12,000 tourism works displaced or affected by the coronavirus disease pandemic can avail of a one- time cash assistance of P5,000 from the Department of Labor and Employment ( DoLE).

As of 6 December, DoLE has received C OVID -19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) applications from 36,446 workers of 1,210 establishments nationwide, with 12,121 from 720 businesses approved to receive the financial assistance.

The agency initially released payment for 7,477 workers amounting to P37, 3 8 5 , 0 0 0 through remittance centers while the fund for the remaining 4,644 is set for disbursement.

Region 7 (Central Visayas) reported the most number of applicants so far with 10,719 ( 30 percent), followed by the National Capital Region ( 6,217 or 17 percent), Region 6- Western Visayas ( 3,783 or 10 percent), Region 9-Zamboanga Peninsula (2,675 or 7 percent) and Region 4A- CALABARZON ( 2,657 or 7 percent).

The least number of applicants came from Region 8- Western Visayas, with only 155.

DoLE said 289 establishments and their 8,146 workers were denied, but no details for the rejection were supplied.

DoLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo- Puyat were signatories of the joint memorandum circular for CAMP andTu long Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers Program.

CAMP’s tourism industry beneficiaries include tour guides and service staff.